Loose-leaf binder.



No. 764,502. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904. R. S. ROBSDN 6: H. G. BLACKMEE. LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLIUATIQR TILED AUG. 7. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 764,502. PATENTBD JULY 5, 1904. Bi ,8. ROBSON & H. G. BLAGKMER.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 7, 1903.

No 1101321,. 2 snnms-snnm 2 ES'SE'EI:

UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT S. ROBSON, OF SOMERVILLE, AND HERBERT O. BLAOKMER, OE

MELROSE, MASSAOI-IUSET"S, ASSIGNORS TO CLARKE LOOSE LEAF BOOK COMPANY, OF KITTERY, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

LoosE-LE'AF BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,502, dated July 5, 1904.

Application filed August '7, 1903.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, Ronnn'r S. ROBSON, of Somerville, andI-IER'BERT O. BLAGKMER, of Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, citizens of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

Our invention relates to an improvement in loose-leaf binders.

The object of our invention is to obtain a loose-leaf binder of simple construction and at little cost and which is especially designed as a loose-leaf binder for small memoranda or other kind of book adapted to be carried in the pocket.

The special construction of our binder can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings forming a part of. this specification, and in which Figure 1 shows a plan of a loose-leaf book open with the improved binder applied thereto. Fig. 2 shows the same in side elevation, but with the book closed. Fig. 3 shows a vertical cross-section taken through the closed book on a line contiguous with one of its binder-rings. Fig 4 shows the same, but with a relative change in the position of some of the binder parts, to which reference will hereinafter be made. Fig. 5 shows a vertical cross-section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 shows a certain detail of construction to which reference will hereinafter be made.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the kind of book to which our improved means of binding is adapted to be applied, such book comprising thecovers c a, the rounding back a and the loose sheets a; The rounding back or, better, the fiber board a or other stiff substance with which said back is reinforced is formed or molded on the inside with the groovesv a a, running crosswise, and which grooves are placed some little distance apart. Within these grooves, fitting in part section,

Serial No. 168,566. (No model.)

so as to turn therein, are what may be termed binder-rings a7 a), for upon these rings the loose sheets are adapted to be impaled, that portion 'of the rings not contained in the said respective grooves rounding forward to receive said sheets, and it is to be noted that the rings are not continuous, but the ends of each are left separated from one another, and by means of which separated ends of the respective rings the loose sheets can be fixed or impaled thereon, after which the rings can be turned around in their respective grooves until the separated cndsof the rings become concealed therein, leaving the loose sheets strung on the continuous portions of the rings. The rings are held in proper place to turn in their respective grooves by means of a segmental piece B, made best of wood and fitting with its segmental edge into the hollow of the rounding back, along which it extends on the inside, whereby the binding-rings are locked in their respective grooves, which form curved ways, as it were, in which the rings areadapted to turn. The piece B may be nailed or glued to the back of the book or otherwise sccured thereto as may be desirable.

There is formed longitudinally in the piece B a groove 1), running centrally along its segmental portion, so as to come in about the center of the rounding back when said piece is fitted in its proper place therein. Within this groove, concealed, lie certain means which normally fit down in part into the grooves formed in the back of the book between the separated ends of the rings contained in said grooves when the rings are turned to a certain position, which prevents said rings from being further turned,-but which means areadapted to be withdrawn from lodgment in said grooves between the separated ends of the rings, when they can be turned around to any position where loose sheets may be impaled upon or disengaged therefrom. Such means comprises members U, shaped like as shown in Fig. 4, and a description of one of which will answer for the other, for both are formed alike. Each member is practically a lever of a size to lie within the groove b of the segmental piece B, and to which said le ver is pivoted by a cross-pin, with a pivotal point of fulcrumage at the point Z), the lever being so made and so disposed that its portion 0 forms a power-arm which extends from said point of fulcrumage, so as to be controlled from the side edge of the book, while its portion 0 forms an arm which extends from said point of fulcrumage to where its turned end 0 will extend down into one of the grooves formed in the back of the book and between the separated ends of the ring contained therein when the ring is turned to a certain position, whereby said ring is locked against a further turning. The arm 0 of the lever is normally kept pressed down by means of the spring 0 which is preferably secured to it and which bears with tension against the bottom of the groove 6, in which the lever lies, with the effect that when the turned end of the lever once finds lodgment between the separated ends of the ring the ring is kept from further turning until the turned end of the lever is released therefrom, this being done simply by pressing down the end of the power-arm c, which, as before said, is accessible from the outside of the book. It is obvious that when the turned end of the lever is once released from the ring and the ring then turned slightly the lever could be let go, when the turned end of the lever would simply bear against the inner periphery of the ring, the pressure of the spring having practically no effect to retard its turning. The ring could then be turned completely around or until the turned end of the lever would snap into its place between its separated ends. As before said, each ring is preferably supplied with a lever or means like as we have described to act as a lock therefor.

A binder so constructed is exceedingly simple in construction, it is inexpensive, and it holds the leaves well and so that they can be easily inserted or taken out of the book. Besides, this means is such that the leaves are held locked in place until released.

As has already been said, the binder is especially designed as a loose-leaf binder for small memoranda or other kind of book adapted to be carried in the pocket, although, of course, the means is such that it can be well applied to books of larger size.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a binder of the character specified, a loose-leaf book having a ring contained in the back thereof upon which ring the loose sheets are adapted to be impaled, the respective ends of the ring being left separated from one another, means for supporting said ring to turn, and a member adapted to extend down in part between the separated ends of the ring, and

which member is adapted to be released therefrom, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a binder of the character specified, a loose-leaf book having a rounding groove formed in the back thereof, a ring adapted to turn in said groove and upon which ring the loose sheets are adapted to be impaled, the ends of the said ring being left separated from one another, means adapted to hold said ring in place to turn in its groove, and a member adapted to extend down in part into said groove between the separated ends of the ring contained therein, and which member is adapted to be released therefrom.

3. In a binder of the character specified, a loose-leaf book having a rounding groove formed in the back thereof, a ring adapted to turn in said groove and upon which ring the loose sheets are adapted to be impaled, the said ring being formed with an opening therein, a member adapted to be inserted into the back of the book and fitting over the groove formed therein, and means releasable from the outside of the book for extending down in part into said groove and into the opening formed in the ring contained therein.

4:. In a binder of the character specified, a loose-leaf book having grooved Ways formed rounding in the back thereof, rings adapted to turn in said grooved ways and upon which rings the loose sheets are adapted to be impaled, and means releasable at will for holding said rings against turning.

5. In a binder of the character specified, a loose-leaf book having a rounding crossgroove formed in the back thereof, a ring adapted to turn in said groove and upon which ring the loose sheets are adapted to be impaled, and which ring has an opening formed therein, a piece having a rounding edge adapted to extend into the rounding back of the book for holding said ring in place, and a member contained within said piece, one end of which member is adapted to extend down into said groove into the opening of the ring contained therein, and which member is adapted to be released therefrom by its other end accessible from the outside of the book.

6. In a binder of the character specified, a loose-leaf book having rounding grooves or ways formed in the back thereof, rings adapted to turn in said grooves or ways and upon which rings the loose sheets are adapted to be impaled, the ends of the respective rings be ing left separated from one another, a segmental piece fitting with its rounding edge into the hollow of the back of the book, and a groove formed longitudinally along the rounding side of said segmental piece, and means adapted to keep either one of said rings from being turned comprising a lever concealed in the groove of the segmental piece aforesaid and pivoted with the same, one end IIO of which lever is adapted to be accessible so contained therein, and a resilient member :for that the lever may be turned from the side of holding the lever normally in such position.

the book, and the other end of which lever ROBERT S. ROBSON.

has a turned or projecting portion to extend HERBERT C. BLACKMER. 5 down into the groove corresponding with it In presence offormed as aforesaid in the back of the book, J. M. Down,

and between the separated ends of the ring J E. R. HAYES. 

